Frank Lampard’s Everton look to spring a shock in their fight for survival as the Toffees host his former team, Chelsea at Goodison Park.
Victory would move Everton to within two points of safety but stay 18th, whereas a win would see Chelsea stay third with the opportunity to extend their gap over fourth-placed Arsenal to nine points for a few hours at minimum.
Team News
Yerry Mina and Dominic Calvert-Lewin could return for Everton after recovering from quad injuries.
Ben Godfrey (thigh) is ruled out until end of season whilst Nathan Patterson (ankle), Donny van de Beek, Andre Gomes (both groin) Tom Davies (thigh) and Andros Townsend (knee) remain absent.
Chelsea could welcome Andreas Christiansen back in contention after he missed their last two matches through illness.
Ross Barkley (illness) is a doubt but Mateo Kovacic (ankle), Callum Hudson-Odoi (Achilles) and Ben Chilwell (knee) remain absent.
Stat Attack
- Everton are unbeaten in four of their last six meetings against Chelsea (W3, D1, L2).
- Chelsea have claimed just four points from their last five visits to Goodison Park (W1, D1, L3)
- Everton have scored first in each of their last three clashes at home against Chelsea.
- Out of the current bottom three clubs coming into this matchweek, Everton (55) have conceded less goals than Watford (67) and Norwich (69).
- No English midfielder has produced more Premier League assists this season than Chelsea’s Mason Mount, who has created nine assists in 29 league appearances.
Prediction
Following Burnley’s comeback win at Watford on Saturday to pull a five-point gap on Everton, this clash is now must-win for Frank Lampard’s Toffees who need to take the positives from their defensive press and counter-attack at Liverpool last weekend and apply that here.
Lacklustre finishing and marking however cost them a draw last weekend so I expect a more tidy performance, yet missing up to eight players is a worry that any team fighting relegation doesn’t need especially if key players like Mina and Calvert-Lewin are absent.
Chelsea meanwhile were simply wasteful at Manchester United on Thursday because they just lacked the finishing touch for much of the 1-1 draw amidst their fierce dominance, which surely has to be a worry for Everton because the visitors will be eager to deliver a clinical response here.
If there is a single positive for Everton fans, it has to be their recent home form against Chelsea because if they don’t win this, it is going to be difficult to see them getting much from their run-in except at Watford if they want to survive.
This game though really is Chelsea’s to lose if they can get on the front foot with an early goal.
Prediction: Everton 0-2 Chelsea
Result: Everton 1-0 Chelsea